Method for forming new sleeping function against insomnia

ABSTRACT

Provided is a functional learning/training method for forming a sleeping function, which is distinct and independent of general sleeping function, and which enables the user to fall asleep quickly by overcoming the phenomenon of insomnia. When a new sleeping condition is set by actively generating visual activity every night, the phenomenon of insomnia may be solved, such that the user can fall asleep quickly and further, ultimately, with the use of the newly formed sleeping function, even without the use of the present invention, the user can solve the phenomenon of insomnia easily and fall asleep, as if a normal person sleeps in a general sleeping function under general circumstances.

CROSS REFERENCE

This is a division of application Ser. No. 16/658,940 which is nowpending.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to methods for performing brain functionaltraining/learning which forms a new sleeping function against insomnia.In more detail, the present invention relates to a device and methodsfor brain functional training/learning to form a new (second) sleepingfunction which is completely different from a general sleeping functionto overcome insomnia.

It is painful thing for a person to be unable to sleep all night. If aperson cannot sleep at night, he or she will be hampered in daytimesocial activities, and his or her overall quality of life may belowered.

Therefore, conventionally, sleeping pills have mainly been used to solvethis phenomenon. However, if sleeping pills are used for an extendedperiod of time, the user thereof may become resistant to such drugs andmay not be able to fall asleep even after taking sleeping pills. Inaddition, taking sleeping pills (chemicals) is frequently accompanied byside effects. Thus, the use of sleeping pills as a fundamental solutionto insomnia may be problematic.

On the other hand, when it comes to cognition, there is a well-known orcommonly used art to induce sleep by listening to songs, music or sound.This is an attempt to solve the phenomenon of being unable to sleep byusing auditory activity.

Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2000-0007191 (Mar. 14, 2000) isan attempt to solve the phenomenon of being unable to sleep by puttingherbal medicine in a pillow to produce an odor, which causes olfactoryactivity.

There is an attempt, as in Korean Utility Model Application No.20-2001-0005507 (Mar. 2, 2001), to inject light into the eye pad to makethe eyes tired and fall asleep. This is an attempt to solve thephenomenon of insomnia by generating visual activity, only using theexistence of light of the visual activity.

The causes of insomnia or being unable to fall asleep at night are verydiverse. The conventional prior art references target all causes ofinsomnia. The present invention does not deal with all the causes andphenomena of insomnia, as discussed below, and covers only a part ofthem. Even if it is considered that the conventional prior artreferences also deal with only the part covered by the presentinvention, it is clear that the attempts to solve insomnia by generatingauditory activity, olfactory activity, and visual activity, as describedabove, have their own meanings from a brain functional point of view.Nevertheless, it cannot be said that these are successful to solveinsomnia.

Therefore, an investigation is required to understand the cause ofinsomnia more accurately from a brain functional point of view and tosolve the cause thereof in a brain functional and fundamental way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the course of our lifetime, the case that we suffer from anacquaintance's death, divorce (or a spouse's unfaithfulness), loss ofcourt proceedings, money problems, unemployment, etc., or that we sufferfrom changes in environment including a change of a bed, an occupationalcharacteristic, such as triple shift or double, or the nature of workcausing stress, thoughts related thereto come into the mind one afteranother. If such a “flow of thoughts” continues to happen at night, wemay not be able to sleep.

The reasons for not being able to sleep at night are diverse and varyfrom person to person, but in the end, are because “an insomniac cannotcut off or stop the flow of one's thoughts”. When this phenomenonhappens, the entire brain is in a working state, which is an awakestate, so that it is unable to sleep with the general sleeping function.The term “insomnia or the phenomenon of being unable to sleep” in thepresent invention refers to this phenomenon, and in general, may bereferred to as “the insomnia (phenomenon)”. The present invention dealsonly with this phenomenon.

Accordingly, the “technical problem to be solved” has been made in orderto stop or disconnect the thinking (or the flow of thoughts of anindividual) when the individual is trying to sleep at night

There are some cases in which an emotion such as anxiety and worry,anxiety or fear may be activated in the phenomenon of not being able tosleep, and sometimes, of waking up and being unable to fall asleepagain. This is because of the phenomenon of emotion itself beingcontinually projected, which is the same as that of continual thought.This emotional projection phenomenon is included in insomnia or thephenomenon of being unable to sleep in the present invention. Theemotions being projected continuously will be discussed in the case thatthoughts are continuously generated.

Looking further, cognitive activity is an integrated activity of signaland experience. That is, in the case of visual activity, when a visualsignal enters the brain, a corresponding visual experience is projected,and this signal is integrated with experience to be visual activity.Therefore, when we attempt to sleep, we close our eyes and try to sleep.By preventing the influx of visual signals and projecting the visualexperience, no activity happens in the brain for sleeping. This is the“general sleeping function or functional ability to sleep.”

However, in the case of insomnia, the thinking activity continues, eventhough the eyes are closed, which means that experience-projectinghappens, i.e., the experience-projecting function is malfunctioning inthe sense of brain function. The problem to be solved is, in otherwords, “a malfunction of the experience-projecting function”. Thismalfunction also develops itself, and the flow of experience-projectingbecomes more and more intense as time passes.

The inventor reveals that, in the human brain, the “thinking (thought)activity area” and “the ultimate visual activity area” are the samearea. This means that thinking and visualization cannot be undertaken atthe same time, and that a choice must be made there between. Based onthis premise, the present invention provides a means to create visualactivity to solve the technical problem, enabling one to push out one'sthoughts through visual activity.

This is discussed in further detail below. First, we examine whatthought (the thought process) is from the perspective of brain function.

At the top of the frontal lobe, there is a “visual screen (area). Theterm “visual screen” is the inventor's term, and its traditional termused in the brain function field is “Brodmann's Area 9” (When theInternet are searched, related images can be found).

Thinking is the use of language to build a story on the visual screen(area), which is like drawing a picture on the visual screen. Themeaning of “using language” refers to using language as if it were in aspeech state by sound experience projecting.

A malfunction of the projecting experience mentioned in the technicalproblem refers to a malfunction of sound experience projecting.

In addition, the visual screen is an area in which a visual shape isultimately displayed due to final integration through several visualsignal processing processes and several experience projecting processes.In view of the visual image shown here, the subject of recognition willadopt a visual understanding and judgment.

That is, the visual screen is where thinking occurs, and also where thevisual image finally appears. Visual and thinking activities may beregarded in the relationship between the first- and second-floor. Thismeans that most of the two activities are in common. However, boththinking and visualization cannot simultaneously occur on the visualscreen.

Therefore, when a picture of the thought is being drawn on the visualscreen, the visual image of the visualization is displayed on the visualscreen, and if maintained for a while, thinking is stopped along withsound experience projecting, resulting in immediate sleep. Here, thestopping of thinking and sleeping is a single phenomenon: To fall asleepafter thinking is stopped is one phenomenon, and the phenomenon of sleepis a phenomenon (which occurs) when thinking stops. Falling asleep inthis situation immediately can be considered falling asleep due to thelaws of nature. This is what the inventor has discovered.

Thus, the present invention causes visual activity to induce the abovephenomenon and provides a means and related information for maintainingthe visual activity.

In other words, the device for forming a new sleeping function againstinsomnia for solving the technical problem according to the presentinvention, comprises a storage unit for storing a plurality of visualimages; a voice output unit for outputting voice; a display unitdisplaying various kinds of information; and a control unit whichcontrols so as to display the initial screen, the instruction manual,the start button, and the toolbar on the display unit according to theuser's operation, wherein the initial screen comprises the instructionmanual button, the selection window which automatically determines theend time when the apparatus starts to operate, and the START button; theabove instruction manual comprises the previous screen button connectedto the above initial screen, the home button, and the next screen, thetext button moving to each chapter representing the instruction manualwhich is divided into six chapters, and a region in which theinstruction manual appears; the above controller unit displays thevisual image including the image selection buttons connected to theinitial screen through the above display unit; the audio output unitrepeatedly plays a sentence of voice “Open eyes” connected to the aboveinitial screen every 20 seconds from the moment the START button ispressed until the operation of the apparatus is completed; the toolbarcomprises a home button, a voice on-off button, a volume buttonincluding a volume controller, an illumination button including alighting controller, and an automatic screen switching button; the abovecontrol unit displays a visual image including a ‘circle with a dot inthe center’ as the first screen through the above display unit when theSTART button is pressed.

The control unit includes a function of causing an image illustrating anangle of the eyeballs when the user is lying sideways to appear on thedisplay unit for 15 seconds every 5 minutes after pressing the STARTbutton. The reason for including this function will be described laterin the “Description of the preferred embodiments” as follows.

Regarding methods, the methods for forming a new sleeping functionagainst insomnia for solving the technical problem according to thepresent invention are two. Each thereof comprises a visual imagedisplayed to the user, controlling an angle of eyeballs and a sleepbehavior or causing a user to sleep by stopping a flow of thoughtthrough learning instruction from an instructor.

The device and methods for forming a new sleeping function againstinsomnia according to the present invention can solve the phenomenon ofinsomnia by creating and developing a new sleeping function separatelyfrom the general sleeping function.

In more detail, if a means for generating visual activity (every night)is provided, visual activity occurs, and when visual activity occurs,thinking activity is stopped and the technical problem can be solved, bywhich the effect of sleep is generated. This means falling asleep in“another condition by a new sleeping function”, which is different froma general sleeping function.

Furthermore, if fulfilling the new sleeping condition each day, itbecomes functional training or functional learning itself, whichcreates, develops, completes (forms) and provides a new sleepingfunction. Substantially and ultimately, a user gets to achieve twosleeping functions: One, in general, is the functional ability to sleepby trying to fall asleep with the eyes closed, and the other is thefunctional ability to fall asleep by stopping thinking throughvisualization with the eyes opened. The former refers to sleeping afterblocking the influx of signals, preventing the experience projectingfrom being activated and causing the brain to have no effect, while thelatter refers to sleeping by actively causing visual activity.

In the latter case, it is not a function to correct a malfunction inexperience projecting, but a new functional ability to sleep by avoidingthinking through the stopping of thinking activity in a situation inwhich malfunctioning occurs in experience projecting. Under thephenomenon of insomnia, it is the ultimate goal and effect of thepresent invention to avoid the phenomenon of insomnia every night andsleep, and to form and retain such a new (second) functional ability.

In other words, insomnia means that sleeping is not possible with thegeneral sleeping function (ability), so the present invention's ultimategoal and effect is to create and develop a new sleeping function(ability) that is different from the general sleeping function(ability).

If the user acquires this ultimate effect, even if the user does not usethe present invention and the thinking activity continues to happen whenthe user tries to sleep, the user can stop the thinking activity andfall asleep within 2˜3 minutes simply by using visual targets withinbedroom with the new sleeping function. This becomes a state of sleepthat is almost equivalent to normal person's sleeping through thegeneral sleeping function in a general situation. Moreover, there are noside effects from start to finish.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a device for forming a newsleeping function against insomnia to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1B is a diagram for illustrating the first screen of the inventionimplemented in a smartphone.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for illustrating the function related to theinstruction manual that appears when pressing the instruction manual 1of FIG. 1B is pressed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for illustrating the components of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the pop-up appearance of the volumecontroller.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the pop-up appearance of the lightingcontroller.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a shape in which a pluralityof visual images comprising components is prepared.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a holder holding a smartphone.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a holder holding a tablet PC.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8b are diagrams illustrating behaviors when performinga general visual activity.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating angles and behaviors of the eyeballsfor the visual activity that a user should perform in the future.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the range (symbol O) when only theeyeballs are slightly turned up when lying in bed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the angles of the eyeball when thevisual image is placed within the range of symbol O of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the right angle of the eyeballs whenlying sideways.

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating how to use a smartphone when noholder is present.

FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating how to use a tablet PC when no holderis present.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to stimulate the visualactivity and also to maintain the effective visual activity in order toprovide the effects of the invention to the user. We must understandthis to understand the composition of the present invention.Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying diagrams, a preferredembodiment in which the device for forming a new sleeping functionagainst insomnia is carried out on a smartphone.

FIG. 1a is a block diagram illustrating a device for forming a newsleeping function against insomnia according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1a , the device 100 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may include a storage unit 110storing a plurality of visual images, a voice output unit 130 foroutputting a voice, a display unit 150 for displaying a variety ofpieces of information, and a control unit 170 that controls to displayinformation such as an instruction manual, a start button, a toolbar,and the like through the display unit 150 according to an instructionmanual.

Then, the device 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionis described in more detail as follows.

FIG. 1b is a diagram for illustrating the first screen of the inventionimplemented in a smartphone, FIG. 2 is a diagram for illustrating thefunction related to the instruction manual that appears when pressingthe instruction manual 1 of FIG. 1b is pressed, FIG. 3 is a diagram forillustrating the components of the present invention, FIG. 4 is adiagram illustrating the pop-up appearance of the volume controller,FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the pop-up appearance of the lightingcontroller, and FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a shape inwhich a plurality of visual images comprising components are prepared.

FIG. 1b is the initial screen of the device when the present inventionis implemented in a smartphone. If the instruction manual 1 is pressed,the instruction manual of the present invention will be opened as ane-book, as shown in FIG. 2. The contents of the instruction manual arealmost the same as in this specification. A user who uses the presentinvention for the first time will be instructed to read the instructionmanual.

FIG. 2 includes the previous screen button (4), the home button (5), andthe next screen button (5). Reference numeral 7 of FIG. 2 illustratesthat the instruction manual is divided into six chapters, and is acharacter button to move to each chapter. The lower part of 8 (dottedline) of FIG. 2 illustrates a region in which the instruction manualappears. This instruction manual may be in the device as shown in FIG.2, may be an e-book on a separate homepage, or may be distributed withprinted paper. In such a case, the device may be configured without theinstruction manual. That is, the configuration of the instruction manualmeans that the instruction manual is prepared so as to be read beforethe present invention is used.

Reference numeral 2 of FIG. 1b is the selection window that allows theuser to select the automatic stop time after launching the device of thepresent invention. There are three choices: 5, 15, and 25 minutes. Ifthe user selected 15 minutes and then pressed START 3, the device wouldautomatically stop after operating for 15 minutes. When the device stopsafter having operated for 15 minutes as selected by the user, if theuser still has not fallen asleep, the user can go back to FIG. 1b(home), reselect the operation time, and press START. The three timeperiods can become the estimated target time that the user chooses “tofall asleep within a certain amount of time”. For example, if the userselects 15 minutes, it may signify that the user will sleep within 15minutes.

Reference numeral 3 of FIG. 1b is the START button, which begins thedevice's operation when pressed. FIG. 3 is the diagram illustrating theactual starting moment of the present invention. Let us look at thisfrom several perspectives.

FIG. 3 illustrates “a circle with a dot in the center” within thedisplay. First, to induce and maintain visual activity, a visual targetmust be visible. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the saved visual imageas a visual target, while the definition of a visual image as the visualtarget in the present invention means two-dimensional (2D) andthree-dimensional (3D) images, such as figures, patterns, pictures,photographs, etc. However, except for the ‘circle with a dot in thecenter’, other images do not have any special designations. Normally,the user usually will choose one of the images for the night. The visualimage in the present invention refers to a still state or a “still cut”such as a single photograph.

4 to 6 images are sufficient as a total number of visual images, but thedevice will consist of about 10 images. Herein, 4 to 6 images aresufficient, so even if the number of images is more than 8, 10, or even20, there is no meaningful difference. Comprising a visual image in thisspecification means storing the visual image of several sheets (10images) including a circle shape with a dot in the center, and enablingthe screen to be switched (screen selection) with the previous screenbutton 10 and the next screen button 11 of FIG. 3.

Once the user presses the START button 3 in FIG. 1b , by default, thecircle with a dot in the center appears, and afterwards, the user canchoose the screen with two buttons 10 and 11. However, the visual imageonly appears fixed in landscape mode, as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, forexample, even if the smartphone is rotated 90 degrees from FIG. 3 toFIG. 1b , the visual image stays fixed, and will not change itsorientation.

FIG. 3 describes the response when the user presses the START button 3,which begins with the voice saying, “Open eyes” 9. In the audio outputsection, the voice repeats the command “Open eyes” 9 every 20 secondsfrom the moment the START button is pressed until the device finishesthe operation. To induce visual activity, the user has to open his orher eyes, but in actual use, his or her eyes will almost closethemselves automatically, so this is why the sentence is repeated tokeep them open. This will be explained further later. Herein, “every 20seconds” means to repeat the replay frequently in such amount of timeinterval. Thus, an interval of 15 to 25 seconds, i.e. every 15 seconds,every 18 seconds, every 22 seconds or every 25 seconds will be same.This means that “every 20 seconds” would be the most desirable for thetime interval, since it is inevitable to select the time interval whenprogramming.

FIG. 5 illustrates also a toolbar. The toolbar 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 isconfigured so that it appears on the screen when pushed up with thefinger, and disappears outside the screen when pushed down with thefinger. FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which a toolbar is displayed onthe screen. 12 of FIG. 3 is a home button, 13 is a voice on-off button,and 14 is a volume button. When the volume button 14 is pressed, thevolume controller 17 pops up as shown in FIG. 4. In order to remove thispop-up window after the volume control is completed, the volume button14 is pressed again. 15 of FIG. 3 is an illumination button. When thisbutton is pressed, the lighting controller 17 pops up as shown in FIG.5. After adjusting the illumination, the illumination button 15 ispressed again to remove the pop-up window 18. It is important to adjustthe degree of illumination, because the user watches these visual imagesin a dark place rather than in a bright place. 16 of FIG. 3 is a screenautomatic switching button. When pressing this button, the 10 visualimages are configured so as to be switched continuously andautomatically at an interval of about 10 seconds.

The explanation illustrates the means (device) implemented in asmartphone, which can be implemented on a tablet PC in such a way. Sincea smartphone or a tablet PC is relatively expensive, only the abovedescribed configuration can be reproduced on a separate, independentdevice so as to be used at a relatively low price.

Method of Using the Device and Discussion Thereof

What does the user do? The two functions, i.e. thinking activity withthe eyes closed and visual activity with the eyes open are constantly ina tug-of-war or a fight for control.

If the user sees an image from the present invention when trying tosleep at night, his/her eyes will soon close, and thoughts will arise.When the user looks at the image again with eyes open, his/her eyes willclose again and thoughts will again return. Then the activity of lookingat the image again with the eyes open will be repeated. Briefly, theuser continues to fight a tug-of-war between closing and opening eyesor, thinking and seeing.

Twenty years ago, when the inventor realized that he could not sleepbecause of his persistent thoughts, the inventor developed thehypothesis that since the thinking activity and the visual activityoccur at the same place, the visual activity can suppress the occurrenceof the thinking activity. It was then, for the first time, that inventorwas able to fall asleep within around an hour after inducing visualactivity. This day is still very much alive in the memory of theinventor. Once inventor closed his eyes, it was very comfortable to keepthem closed.

Looking back on this, the inventor remembers that it was very difficultto open his eyes and how irritated he was. Also, the inventor found outthat the flow of thinking activity was very strong. Since it isdifficult to open one's eyes independently within this strong flow, theinventor thought that it might be easier if someone would tell him,“Open eyes”. The reason why the present invention keeps saying “Openeyes” is because it is difficult for one to open one's eyesindependently, and this is why it is one of the main components of thepresent invention. For this reason, it is critical to not turn off thisvoice, even when it is irritating. Though it may seem irritating attimes, the intensity of one's irritation will decrease as time goes on.The volume on/off button 8 in FIG. 5 is provided so that the voice canbe turned off in special situations when it is inconvenient to have thevoice talk, such as when one is sleeping amongst many people, and itisn't meant to be used to turn off the voice just because it isirritating.

Once the eyes close, 5˜15 minutes of time passes by quickly. At thispoint, the user will realize the significance of the support provided bythe voice.

From this moment, as long as the user is closing his/her eyes, he/shemust realize that the thinking activity will not be stopped, resultingin no sleep. Therefore, the user must keep his/her eyes open, and inducevisual activity by looking at the image. The user must also realize thatthe final victor in the tug of war or battle between the two functionswill always be the visual activity. Every day, and always, the visualactivity will win, allowing one to sleep.

Visual activity. (a) The visual activity consists of two methods, one ofwhich works with various parts of the brain integrated into one systemto cause activity, while the other causes partial activity. These twoactivities do not become active by conscious selection, but rather areselected unconsciously as the visual activity occurs. The former is thevisual activity that stops the thinking activity to allow sleeping.Let's call the former activity, in which the visual activity occurs,“taking-photo”. When “taking-photo” takes place, thinking activity isstopped and sleeping occurs, due to the law of nature. For reference, ifwe are to watch a movie, most of the time is spent by the latter.

(b) For actual use, see the holder shown in FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b . Thisholder can hold either a smartphone or a tablet PC.

(c) When viewing visual targets (visual images) to cause visualactivity, it is generally difficult to escape from the flow of thoughtfrom the aspect of general behavior (angle or direction of eyeball) whenviewing videos or images. For this reason, turn the eyeballs slightlyupward (in that angle) when viewing the visual target.

FIG. 8a is illustrating the behavior of looking slightly downward duringa normal visual activity, and FIG. 8b is illustrating the behavior oflooking horizontally. These kinds of behaviors are to be avoided.

FIG. 9 demonstrates the behavior of only moving the eyes a bit upward toview horizontally while keeping one's chin fixed. From now on, the useris expected to cause visual activity through this kind of behavior. Forthose with glasses, the eyes should be directed just a bit above the topof the glasses. The purpose of causing visual activity by moving theeyes slightly upward like this is to weaken or avoid the (powerful) flowof thinking activity.

FIG. 10 illustrates the virtual vertical line right above the eyes orthe virtual horizontal line right in front of the eyes (symbol V: SymbolV in the diagram below represents the virtual vertical or horizontalline to which the eyes are headed towards) when lying on a bed, and therange (symbol O) when only the eyes are shifted a bit upward with thechin fixed. To explain this range in more detail, it represents therange that is a bit higher than the range that is the same or similar tothe above V direction. Visual activity is started with the visual imageplaced within the range of symbol O. FIG. 11 illustrates the situationin which the visual image is placed within the range of symbol O of FIG.10 and the angle of the eyes. Of course, the “within the range of symbolO” means the range that is natural even when the user moves the eyes abit upward, and a range that isn't awkward due to raising the eyes toextreme levels. There isn't a numerical value for the physical“degrees”. However, the visual target must be apparently above thevirtual vertical line or the horizontal line symbol V in FIG. 10.

The above does not present any special difficulties. Unlike the behaviorof normal visual activity, the user only needs to think about turninghis or her eyeballs upward a little. Later, with experience, any visualbehavior and its activity will do, but during the initial process,“taking-photo” can either occur very late or not at all with the eyes'angle of the normal visual activity in FIG. 8. On the other hand, if theuser thinks that he or she cannot fall asleep despite a lot of visualactivity, it is probably because he or she is doing visual activity inthe manner shown in FIG. 8a or 8 b. Quickly, the user should turn his orher eyeballs upward and reposition his or her own face or torso.

There is an interesting story to tell the user about this: Avoidingcommon behavior and raising our eyes a little “upward” is not somethingthe user can understand but something the user has to realize. Actually,the inventor realized that in 99 days out of 100, 15 minutes to 25minutes are always spent looking at the visual target (visual image) innormal behavior, until the inventor realized that he wasn't fallingasleep and immediately raised the eyes to look at the visual image.Usually, it means that the user is wasting from 15 to 25 minutes or moreof time every night.

Therefore, in the present invention, if the image illustrating the angleof the eyeballs when the user is lying sideways (for example, FIG. 12 tobe described later) appears on the display part for 15 seconds every 5minutes after pressing the START button 3 on the device and theinstruction manual instructs that the meaning of the indication is asignal to check whether the angle of the eyeballs is correct or not,this instruction can prevent the user from losing 15 to 25 minutes everyday.

(d) FIG. 12 illustrates the proper angle of the eyes when lying on one'sside. The visual image is on the horizontal line. It may be easier tofall asleep when lying on one's side compared to lying on one's back.This is because it is behaviorally more natural and easier to raise theangle of one's eyes upward when lying on one's side. Therefore, if theuser feels that he or she will not be able to sleep lying on his or herback, think about the angle of his or her eyes and conduct visualactivity while lying on one's side.

Users who wear glasses should take them off, and after adjusting thedistance so that the visual image is fully visible to the naked eye,confirm the location of the visual image or smartphone in terms of itsangle.

(e) With nothing to hold one's phone or tablet, one cannot engage in thevisual activity while lying down, and must be on one's side. FIG. 13aand FIG. 13b show how a smartphone FIG. 13a and tablet PC FIG. 13b canbe used with no holders. Use them while leaning them against a wall or acushion.

The optimum solution is to buy two holders, and use one for lying onone's back and the other for lying on one's side.

Image usage guidance. There are 10 images stored in the device of thepresent invention. The first image is the ‘circle with a dot in thecenter’. Initially, the user is recommended to use only this figure.Maintain the behavior of continuously looking at the center dot for themajority of the initial process. In other words, maintain this whilecontinuing to look at the center dot. Here, the initial process means asituation in which the flow of thinking activity is strong and the newsleeping function does not exist or is insignificant.

If it is observed that the user is falling asleep within 15˜25 minuteswhile only using the circle, since it is difficult to reach the ultimategoal with only the circle, choose a different image (train with avariety of images). It is recommended to select the image that is afterthe circle. For a period of time, try “taking-photo” by selecting thesecond image. If it is observed that the user is falling asleep within15˜25 minutes with the second image as well, select the third image, andso on. In other words, it is good to train using multiple images toachieve the ultimate goal.

However, if the user slept well because “taking-photo” went well thenight before, then it is good to do it the same way the next day.

When looking at each image, visual activity is caused by eitheranalyzing or judging while conveniently looking at the whole image in asingle vision, or delicately analyzing and judging a part of the image.The thinking activity of the present invention includes both theanalysis and judgment activities. Analysis and judgment encompass theact of observing various things, such as color, shape, sense ofdistance, sense of mass, and counting.

If only the direction of the eyes is directed to the visual image,“taking-photo” may not occur. One must analyze and judge. It is observedthat “taking-photo” occurs approximately 30% of times for thoseanalyzing and judging the whole image, and approximately 70% for thoseanalyzing and judging partially.

On those special days when the user thinks it is strangely difficult tofall asleep, when the user presses button 16 (automatic screentransition) in FIG. 3, ten prepared visual images transition with 10seconds given for each, so try to conduct visual activity by partiallyanalyzing and judging again, after analyzing and judging each image as awhole in a calm mood.

Waking up while sleeping. There are times when the user may wake up, dueto a phone call, anxiousness, or worry, while sleeping at night. At thistime, the user may be pressured to fall asleep again quickly, or worrywhile thinking “it is going to be terrible if I don't fall asleep untilmorning”. It is important to get rid of these thoughts, takingconfidence in the wisdom of thinking, “I'll be able to sleep again soonusing visual activity,” and keeping his or her mind comfortable orpeaceful. One must look at the visual image with this type ofcomfortable mindset.

Also, after waking up after sleeping, the user's body still feelssleepy, so the user must get rid of that sleepiness completely to beable to sleep again. The user must realize that the user cannottransition him or her to the status of sleep when the user feels sleepy,but when the user gets rid of that sleepiness and have a clearconsciousness. In the range of general sleeping function, sleepiness cansignify the connection to sleep, but since the user isn't able to sleepwith the general sleeping function now, it signifies that the user isn'table to sleep while the user feels sleepy.

If the user woke up around 2 in the morning and is feeling sleepy,instead of being hasty and hurrying up to directly connect thatsleepiness to sleep, maintain a peaceful mind until the sleepiness isgone, and once it is gone (which can take around 30 minutes to twohours), prepare the visual image again and try to sleep again throughvisual activity.

Looking deeper into the relationship with sleepiness, while trying outvisual activity for the first time using the app (the invention), theuser might think it strange to experience this clearing of consciousnessand the disappearance of sleepiness, but the user must realize thatsleep comes with a lack of sleepiness and a clearing of consciousness.

Functional learning. To create and grow this new sleeping function is todevelop a functional learning process. This is like the functionallearning of learning to drive a car. By growing each new sleepingfunction each day, the user accumulates daily experience.

Experience accumulates over time, and with it, the time one requires tolie down and fall asleep decreases, bit by bit. For some who weren'table to sleep at night and could only sleep 1˜2 hours in the morning fora long time (for example, a decade or two decades or three decades),they may fall asleep with the help of the present invention, but thenwake up again within an hour. It is important to note that in this case,waking up again is a separate problem, and the fact that the user sleptfor at least an hour is important. This less than an hour of sleep willcontinue to evolve quantitatively and qualitatively with theaccumulation of experience.

Even if the user falls asleep and wake up and the user cannot go back tosleep, the user will eventually sleep without waking up until themorning, as the user develops this skill further each time the user wakeup. Once the user has the time and space to spare as the useraccumulates experience, the user will know whether or not the user hascarried out the “taking-photo” process. Therefore, the user will knowthat “taking-photo was conducted and that the user will soon fallasleep. After “taking-photo”, the user will sleep after exactly 5˜6seconds.

Ultimately, the user will be able to fall asleep within 2˜3 minutesusing any visual target (anything that can be seen is a visual target)in the room, without the present invention. That is, unlike the generalsleeping function, a separate new sleeping function is formed andretained. Actually, the user will be able to sleep using each of the twofunctions. At first, one might try to sleep with the general function ofclosing one's eyes, but after realizing that one is not able to sleepdue to thoughts that are occurring, one will be able to open one's eyesand sleep by conducting visual activity.

The time required for achieving the ultimate learning goal. Let's assumethe case of those who could not have fallen asleep at night for a longtime, for example, could not sleep all night and only sleep for an houror two in the morning for a period of 10, 20, or 30 years. It can bededuced that the time required to complete the new function to theextent is between 6˜9 months to 33 months. This deduction is based onthe process which the inventor has gone through to escape from thephenomenon of not being able to sleep, and the language developmentprocess of the baby, and the development process of the brain function.

The above description illustrates that the present invention is realizedby a so-called application. This is for self-learning. This makes itimpossible or difficult for illiterate people or elderly people to usethe present invention by themselves. Otherwise, in functional trainingor learning, the term “self-learning” means a high possibility of trialand error.

The present invention may be realized in the form of a distance learningmethod and an instructor-led offline learning method. The two methodswill be discussed as follows.

Distance Learning Method

Recently, videotelephony allows people to talk with each other whilelooking at images of each other using smartphones or web cameras via theInternet. In addition, current distance learning devices allow learnersand instructors to look at images of each other. In general,instructions are performed by displaying visual images (e.g. pictures ordiagrams) as well as images of test papers instead of the instructor.That is, a user may be provided with an instruction while looking at theface of the instructor or be provided with the visual images (e.g.pictures or diagram), by using smartphones.

As the user and the instructor use such distance learning devices, theface of the user, captured by the camera of the smartphone of the user,may be displayed on the monitor of the instructor, so that theinstructor may instruct to adjust (control) the angles of the eyeballsand the sleep behavior of the user while looking at the monitor. Theinstructor may demonstrate the sleep behavior to the user.

An instructor may provide an online instruction to the user in asituation in which the user is connected to the instructor using thedistance learning device while generally staying at home (without havingto visit any place). The instructor may help the user sleep by cuttingof the flow of thoughts or by adjusting the user's brain function toform a new sleeping function by adjusting the angles of the eyeballs andthe sleep behavior of the user or training the user regarding the anglesof the eyeballs and the sleep behavior by providing and instructing theuser to look at one of visual images, including “circle with a dot inthe center”. Here, the adjustment of the sleep behavior which involvesordering the user to open eyes when the user close them and the trainingrefer to the instruction of the instructor provided regarding thosedescribed above in the instruction manual according to the situation.This is the “distance learning method.” The distance learning method istypically performed when the user attempts to sleep in bed.

Even in the case in which the user is illiterate, the distance learningallows the user to obtain the effect of the present invention by voicesand demonstration of the instructor. When the user is literate, thedistance learning may significantly reduce trials and errors compared tothe self-learning of the present invention, so that the user may moreeffectively and efficiently learn to form the new sleeping function.

Offline Learning Method

An instructor may provide an offline instruction to a learner havinginsomnia by visiting the learner or inviting the learner to aninstructor's clinic. The instructor may help the learner (user) sleep bycutting the flow of thoughts or by adjusting the learner's brainfunction to form a new sleeping function by adjusting the angles of theeyeballs and the sleep behavior of the learner or training the learnerregarding the angles of the eyeballs and the sleep behavior bydisplaying visual images to the learner. Here, the adjustment of thesleep behavior, the training, and the adjustment of the brain functionrefer to the instruction of the instructor provided regarding thosedescribed above in the instruction manual according to the situation.

The instructor may demonstrate the sleep behavior to the learner.Regarding the display of visual images, the learner may achieve thelearning in the process of using the self-learning application or theinstructor may provide the learning to the learner by attaching preparedvisual image(s), such as “circle with a dot in the center,” to the wallabove the bed headboard or on the ceiling. This is the “offlinelearning.”

It is understood that the offline learning may be provided by a singleinstructor to one or two persons (learners). However, the offlinelearning has more significant and better results compared to thelearning using the self-learning application and the distance learningmethod.

It is understood that the offline method can be implemented even in anenvironment without electricity, without a smartphone, and without theInternet, and that, essentially, the application for self-learning andthe distance learning method are to expand the range of use of theoffline method by using contemporary technology.

In brief, the present invention may be embodied and provided in the formof (i) a self-learning application, (ii) distance learning, and (iii)offline learning. All of these forms have an essential idea of“adjusting the brain function of the learner (user).” The adjustment ofthe brain function means to help the learner to sleep by disconnectingthe flow of thoughts, which is a major reason of insomnia, or to form anew sleeping function in the brain. Such adjustment of the brainfunction is performed by adjusting the sleep behavior or learninginstruction.

Important point in this case is that the above-mentioned three types arein the complementary relationship. For example, a user may undertakeself-learning by using the application after the distance learning forone week, because the cost of the distance learning is expensive. Here,if the self-learning is performed using the relatively-inexpensiveapplication after the period of the distance learning is set to be asshort as possible, unnecessary costs can be prevented.

Overall Discussions

In summary, the inventor has studied the brain function through secondlanguage acquisition (foreign language acquisition) with a focus onlistening to the second language sound (English sound) from TV or radioin Korea. In addition, the inventor recruited learners and taughtforeign language acquisition (acquisition of English).

It is widely known that adults have a difficult time acquiring a secondlanguage. This is because, when the second language is heard for itsacquisition, instead of the second language sound causing a reactivitythat supports the development of the second language function, it isjudged based on the thinking activity of the first language function.Therefore, most of the second language sound that is heard goes towaste, without any meaning. As such, it is necessary to either stop orlimit the thinking activity of the first language function, so withinthe classroom, this thinking activity is either limited or suppressedthrough two methods.

The first thing a learner does when he/she comes to the classroom is tolook at the circle (diameter of around 1˜1.2 meters) with a dot in thecenter for around 15˜25 minutes, and then, when listening to English(second language sound) through earphones or loud speakers, he/sheslightly turns his/her eyes upward to look at the dot on the ceiling.The two practices are done to either suppress or limit the thinkingactivity.

Looking at the circle calms the nerves and gradually weakens thethinking activity (frontal lobe activity). The reason why this occurs isunknown, but when the eyes are turned a bit upward to look, the thinkingactivity is limited and suppressed. This is because the direction of thevision is placed on the edge of the area where the visual activity orthinking activity takes place. Since the thinking and visual activitiesoccur in the same area, it means that the thinking activity occurs atthe outskirts of the thinking activity area, and at this time (accordingto the laws of nature) the thinking activity becomes weaker, or morerestricted.

The inventor deploys two means in this instruction manual(specification) that are used to weaken or limit the thinking activitythat have always been used by learners in the inventor's classroom. Inthis sense, the inventor intends to represent to end the argument oninsomnia further, in other words, to eliminate insomnia in this worldwith this invention.

20 years ago, the inventor was dealing with sleep problems. By focusingon the continuously occurring thinking activity as the cause, theinventor achieved sleep by suppressing this activity through continuousvisual activity. He himself escaped from insomnia after about one yearstruggling. As a person who studies brain functions, the inventor hascontinuously been observing what was going on in his head.

Even after that, there were times the inventor was unable to sleep orwould wake up while sleeping, but at each time, he was observing how thevisual activity helped to sleep. One day, the inventor couldn't sleepdue to thoughts, so he realized, “It is because of my thoughts that Ican't sleep!” and the inventor observed that he could fall asleep byopening his eyes, allowing them to wander in search of a visual target,and conducting a visual activity using the visual target. At that time,this act lacked any conscious (intentional) behaviors, and simplyoccurred automatically. This was novel.

So the inventor self-observed his sleep behavior for some time:

The act of trying to sleep with eyes closed using the general sleepingfunction was observed. After deciding while trying to sleep in aconventional manner that the inventor wasn't going to be able to sleepdue to his thoughts, as was described above, he found that by engagingin the act of opening the eyes immediately, looking around for a visualtarget and conducting visual activity for a couple of minutes, he wasable to achieve sleep. It was observed that the initial flow of thethought was weakened (decreased) by about 1/20 at the time ofobservation.

The observation illustrates that the general sleeping function does notwork under insomnia, and that sleeping is not possible even if the flowof thought is weak until it is suppressed. In addition, it illustratesthat there is another (new) sleeping function by causing visualactivity, which is completely different from the general sleepingfunction. It illustrates that, even under the phenomenon of insomnia, ifthis new sleeping function is completed and formed, anyone can sleep asif normal person sleeps by the general sleeping function under thegeneral circumstances.

It should also be understood that the intensity of the flow of thoughtis different for each person. When dealing with the phenomenon ofinsomnia, it should be understood that even if the basic principlesdiscussed are the same, the specific details may differ depending on theintensity of the flow when dealing with each concrete result. It istherefore necessary to understand that it is not possible to uniformlypresuppose or deal with all people.

It will be helpful if the learners who are using the present inventionfor the first time would remember the intensity of the first day'sthought, use it as a reference, and observe the change of the intensityat each moment until the next ultimate goal is reached.

It reveals that the new sleeping function is formed and functions as asecond sleeping function, or that its existence is possible according tothe training/learning, which is important since they signify the adventof “direction” within the discussion of the phenomenon of not being ableto sleep, or, insomnia.

Before revealing the existence of a new sleeping function, the inventorwas only trying to write one or two pages about “the phenomenon in whichthe constant thoughts cause insomnia” when writing a book on brainfunction, but since the finding of the new sleeping function, he decidedthat this phenomenon had to be dealt with separately, which led to thecreation of this writing and the present invention.

As mentioned, the prior arts using the auditory activity or theolfactory activity are those with the eyes being closed, which have thepremise opposite to the present invention and cannot expect or predictthe goal and effect of the present invention. In other words, the priorarts are different from the present invention in terms of composition,goal and effect. Herein, the meaning of “the premise opposite to thepresent invention” is as follows: Continued occurrence of thoughts andtheir flow becoming stronger as time passes (the passage of time, in abroader perspective) are caused by closing eyes. However, withoutunderstanding this causal relationship, they are trying to sleep withinthe general category of sleeping function with closing their eyes. Theymust understand the causal relationship, and realize that there is a newsleeping function with opening their eyes to positively generate thevisual activity, which is quite different from the former.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail, the present invention is not limited to thespecific preferred embodiments described above without departing fromthe key points of the present invention claimed in the following claims.Anyone who has ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains may perform various modifications and removals, replacements,additions, and bypasses of some components, and the like, but they willfall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of a distance learning of forming a newsleeping function against insomnia, the method comprising: controllingan angle of eyeballs and a sleep behavior or causing a user to sleep bystopping a flow of thought through an learning instruction or developinga skill of controlling a brain function for forming a new sleepingfunction, while an instructor shows a visual image to the user when boththe user and the instructor are connected to a distance learning deviceable to display images.
 2. An offline leaning method of forming a newsleeping function against insomnia, the method comprising: controllingan angle of eyeballs and a sleep behavior or causing a user to sleep bystopping a flow of thoughts through an learning instruction ordeveloping a skill of controlling a brain function for forming a newsleeping function, while an instructor shows a visual image to a userafter an instructor visits a place at which a learner having insomniastays or after the instructor invites the learner to a place at whichthe instructor stays.